Full result

Tried to get down when stalls opened and slowly away, raced wide held up in touch in rear, headway to track leaders 7f out, joined leaders 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon hung left, driven out opened 13/2 touched 8/1 £8000-£1000

Verdict

Doctor Fremantle (fourth), Golden Sword (fifth) and Treasure Beach (second) have all won this prize in recent years before going on to run respectable races at Epsom in the Derby and MICKDAAM has earned the right to pitch up there but it will be a little surprising if he can better his predecessors. Bar an excusable dip at Goodwood, he showed promise as a juvenile and built on that during four starts for Mike de Kock at Meydan over the winter, finishing under four lengths behind Daddy Long Legs in the UAE Derby. He was expected to improve for his close second in the Tattersalls Million (for Richard Fahey) and duly did so under a positive ride with his jockey making a positive move from behind a steady pace having raced wide. He was all out to hold on at the line but deserves credit for doing so and has earned the right to have a tilt at a higher level. Charlie Hills has made no secret of his admiration for Newmarket maiden winner Model Pupil and his charge didn't let the new master of Faringdon Stables down with a big run on his first start outside maiden company. Looking a little uneasy on the turns as the tempo increased and with horses in front of him, he was momentarily outpaced but found his stride in the straight to finish best of all and looked as though he'd have been in front in another dozen yards. He's entitled to have learnt a considerable amount from this experience with his trainer believing that he already needs further, pinpointing the King Edward VII and Great Voltigeur as targets en route to the St Leger and there's no shortage of stamina in his smart pedigree. They finished nicely clear of Call To Battle who had finished second in the Ballysax Stakes (David Livingston fifth) last time having previously beaten promising 1000 Guineas sixth Alla Speranza last term. He had the perfect racing position throughout but appeared to lack the gears to launch a serious challenge and, perhaps, as his dam is out of a sister to St Leger winner Millenary he also needs a stiffer test to be shown at his best. The disappointment of the race was David Livingston whose stable had won this prize three times in the last five years. He set a nice, even tempo out in front but who failed to pick up once challenged, and passed, for the lead. He had made every yard in heavy ground when beating the well-regarded Akeed Mofeed in the Beresford last season so it's hard to think that either tactics or conditions were to blame for his eclipse. He now has a little to prove as a result having also finished well beaten at Leopardstown when ridden with more restraint. Like the runner-up, Minimise Risk was stepping out of maiden company for the first time. He was a shade keen early, hung in the straight and never looked like landing a blow. This was only his third start and a very different test but his big-race entries look a little optimistic on this evidence.